Awards predictions are a funny, ridiculous thing. There's no way to account for luck or injury ahead of a season—though the Hockey Prospectus VUKOTA system can help. All you can really do is put yourself in the shoes of the typical award voter and incorporate that into how you think the season might unfold. (Yes, I have a ballot.)

So, with that in mind, here's Sporting News' predictions for the NHL's major trophies. This isn't necessarily who should win because that's impossible to say until May. It's a guess on who has a leg up, for reasons both objective and not, with some added assumptions on how the games play out.

Hart (MVP): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

If he doesn't break his jaw last season, he walks away with both MVP trophies and the scoring title. It's not a difficult choice—if Crosby is healthy, he'll produce, and he'll win. He's still the consensus best player and biggest name in the game, which gives him a leg up in any situation that involves a human voting process.

Vezina (goalie): Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

Rask wasn't simply great last season—his .931 even-strength save percentage is No. 4 among goalies with at least 2,000 minutes played since 2008-09. Former teammate Tim Thomas is No. 1, with .935, which strengthens Rask's case; the Bruins support their goaltenders, and that's as important as anything. Goalies on bad teams don't win Vezinas. Mediocre is the bare minimum.

Norris (defenseman): Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Suter came close enough in 2013, finishing a close second to P.K. Subban. That sort of thing can't hurt, and whether he fueled Jonas Brodin's success, vice versa, or some combination, there's no real reason to think Suter will be any worse this season. He's a marquee name who plays a lot and will produce enough points to satisfy that requirement. As for Subban, repeat winners are rare, unless you're Nicklas Lidstrom.

Calder (rookie): Boone Jenner, Columbus Blue Jackets.

This one might be a little off the board, but Jenner, 20, is going to start the season on Columbus' top line with Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky. He had 82 points last season for OHL Ontario, is physically ready at 6-2, 208 pounds and has enough of a profile because of his time with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship.

Selke (defensive forward): Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins.

It's sort of ridiculous that he didn't win this again in 2013; he's legitimately one of the best defensive centers in the league, and the Selke tends to be a legacy award. Instead, Toews took it, which was questionable for several reasons. Still, Bergeron has the profile, track record and, yes, offensive production that's typically necessary.

Jack Adams (coach): Peter DeBoer, New Jersey Devils

The Devils missed the playoffs last season largely because of subpar goaltending. DeBoer, at the time, didn't have a viable alternative to Martin Brodeur. Now he does. If he starts Cory Schneider for the majority of the games, the Devils will be in the playoff hunt, and the "turnaround" narrative train will leave the station.

Richard (goals): Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning.

This is as close to a lock as you'll find. Stamkos has 105 goals over the last three seasons; at No. 2 with 81 is Alex Ovechkin, who won the Richard last season but will miss Mike Ribeiro on the power play and, statistically, is exiting his scoring peak. Stamkos is still only 23.